Goan held in Nigerian death case

Mumbai, Nov. 5: Police have arrested a 24-year-old Goan in connection with last week’s killing of a Nigerian in a clash over drug-peddling about 4km from Calangute beach.

The move comes a day after the arrests of 50 Nigerians protesting the murder snowballed into a diplomatic row, with that country warning of possible reprisal attacks on Indians living on its soil.

Goa police sources said the man picked up in connection with the Parra village attack had been identified as Suren Paul, a resident of Chapora. About eight persons are suspected of having a role in the October 31 attack.

Police officers declined comment on the case in the wake of Nigeria’s formal protest that has bruised ties with one of India’s biggest oil suppliers.

On the morning of October 31, 30-year-old Obina Paul Obric was found dead with multiple stab wounds at Parra village after a late-night clash between local villagers and Nigerians over suspected drug-trafficking.

The murder sparked protests from Nigerians who stopped a police hearse carrying Obric’s body from proceeding to Goa Medical College in Panjim for post-mortem and blocked National Highway 17 at Porvorim for nearly an hour after noon. The protesters also attacked a police van demanding immediate arrests of the killers.

The protest caused a huge traffic snarl, forcing chief minister Manohar Parrikar to drop by Mapusa police station where a case had been filed. Parrikar then asked officials to track down all Nigerians in Goa and deport those overstaying after expiry of their visas.